Interesting Facts about the Trek Station: Architect: Ron Boruk Contractor: R.A. West Construction, Vulcan, AB. Size of Building: 2,930 Sq. Feet Height of Building: 53′ from floor bottom to tower tipIn November, 1995 a former Town of Vulcan Administrator brought forward the concept of creating a space themed tourist station to tap into the growing tourist market interested in Space Tourism, Science and Star Trek. The idea quickly grew into a group effort between V.A.S.T (Vulcan Association for Science and Trek), the Vulcan County Economic Development , Vulcan & District Chamber of Commerce and the Town of Vulcan. The Trek Station’s official grand opening was on October 23, 1998. The Station was designed to look like a landed spaceship. Clever landscaping and fibreoptic lighting on the soffat of the center enhance the illusion. Today thousands of people from all over this world, and beyond, make the Trek to Vulcan to visit this unique attraction. It’s not everyday you see a tourist information centre shaped like a spaceship, unless of course you are in Vulcan, Alberta.

Star Trek inspired attractions: In addition to carrying tourist information about Vulcan County, and the rest of Alberta, the Trek Station is also home to a number of unique science fiction and Star Trek inspired attractions:

Star Trek Character Cutouts – You bring the camera, we supply the costumes! Life-sized Star Trek character cutouts are waiting to pose with you on the main bridge of our Star Ship.

Star Trek Memorabilia – Admire the 800+ piece collection of Star Trek memorabilia, donated to the Town of Vulcan by the family of Albert Cave – a long time Star Trek fan and Vulcan enthusiast.

Star Trek Walking Tour of Vulcan: From the Trek Station to the post office with a stop at the cemetery along the way, take a “Trek” around Vulcan to explore this town’s tributes to Star Trek. Vulcan Alberta’s relationship with Star Trek dates back to the earliest days of the original series; however, contrary to popular belief Vulcan was not named after Mr. Spock’s fictitious home planet. In 1910, Vulcan was named by a Canadian Pacific Railway surveyor who had a special interest in Roman Mythology – 56 years before the first Star Trek episode aired on television. Explore these sites and more on your Trek through town:If you want to be a little more hi-tech, pull out your GPS unit – there are also a number of GeoCaches that people have hidden around Vulcan and throughout Vulcan County.

Vulcan’s iconic monument to the future proudly overlooks Hwy 23, with plaques greeting visitors in the English, Klingon and Vulcan languages. On June 10, 1995, Vulcan, Alberta took a major step towards developing its own brand of space tourism when the town unveiled the Star Ship FX6-1995-A. The original USS Enterprise of Star Trek inspired the Vulcan Association of Science and Trek (V.A.S.T) with the idea to construct a starship in Vulcan. Today, this iconic ship stands proudly overlooking highway 23, halfway between Calgary and Lethbridge near the Centre Street entrance to town, and is one of the stops on Vulcan’s Star Trek Walking Tour. Plaques are mounted on the base of the FX6-1995-A that greet our intergalactic visitors in the English, Klingon and Vulcan Languages. Images of Vulcan’s famous starship have appeared on television documentaries and newscasts as well as in magazines and newspaper articles around the world. It even starred in a commercial for a mini-van.

About the Starship: The Vulcan Starship FX6-1995-A was named after the Vulcan Airport’s identifier: “FX6″. 1995 was the year the ship was unveiled and “A” signifies the Town of Vulcan’s first major project launched in pursuit of the development of the Science and Trek theme.